The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was awarded $25,000 to help launch the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, a craft trail system for 25 WNC counties to increase income for craft artists and businesses, enhance cultural tourism and improve local economies. This grant is contingent upon the receipt of other funds.

Monday, December 5, 2016

December Clay Club will be at Cynthia Bringle’s studio on THURSDAY, December 15th, at 6 pm. (Note the change from our regular meeting day. Mitchell and Yancey folks - TRAC is holding its annual meeting on December 14th.) Thanks to Cynthia for hosting us!

We will have our annual mug/cup/object exchange and celebrate the end of 2016. (In case you haven't been before, here are the details on the exchange, as explained by John Britt for a previous exchange: "The Cup Exchange doesn't have to be a cup but more like any "object" , so think creatively about what you have laying around. Just something to swap. You could even bring an old used shitty cup from the cupboard as long as it is a Hamada made it.")

We will have the usual potluck, so bring food to share. Clay Club is BYOB, so bring drink, too.

Cynthia’s studio is located at 160 Lucy Morgan Lane, Penland, NC 28765. Google maps will get you there: goo.gl/GbnWT9

Reems Creek Pottery in Weaverville is looking for a non-production potter to join our studio beginning January 1. This person would get about 125 square feet of dedicated space along with shared slab roller, kilns, ware racks, sales area etc. Yes, there is gas heat. Electric kilns are fired to a maximum of cone 6. If you are a thrower, it is bring your own wheel.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Toe River Holiday Studio Tour is this weekend! Artist studios and galleries are open throughout Mitchell and Yancey counties. Download a tour guide and get all the details here: http://www.toeriverarts.org/studio-tour/

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Kathy King, Director of Education in Harvard's Ceramics Program and frequent Penland instructor, will be our guest presenter for the evening. She will discuss the integration of Harvard's clay program with other disciplines at the university, their engagement with 3D technology, and their exhibition program.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Celebrate 5 Years with Us!

This Saturday, 4-8pm!

The Village Potters are celebrating 5 years this Saturday, November 19th from 4-8pm. All are welcome to join in the fun. This intentional Collective of potters share a commitment to nurturing each other’s success, as well as the development and success of the up to 50 students enrolled in weekly clay classes, and 29 students enrolled in their Independent Study and Mentoring Program.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

I posted back in October about the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design's Western North Carolina Makers Survey - if you haven't already completed it, CCCD encourages you to do so by November 17th for a chance to win:

From the Penland Facebook page:
Come join us Saturday, November 12 for a joint studio sale from 1-3 PM! Concentration students from our clay, glass, metals, wood, and print workshops are coming together in Northlight with a lot of the work they've made this session. It's your opportunity to see their pieces, meet the artists, and maybe take home a special thing or two. All are welcome!

Friday, November 11, 2016

Thanks to Lindsay Rogers and the East Tennessee State University Student Ceramics Association for hosting our first out-of-state Clay Club! It was great to get the chance to meet up with a terrific group of potters and ceramic artists at ETSU. A number of folks made the trek from Western North Carolina (and John Britt talked to a couple on their way from Indiana to Asheville who stopped for the meeting - I think they win the prize for farthest travelers, maybe in the history of Clay Club!).

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Where: the ceramics studio at ETSU in Johnson City, TN. Thanks to faculty member Lindsay Rogers and the ETSU Student Ceramics Association for hosting us! ETSU is about an hour from Asheville and from the Penland/Bakersville/Spruce Pine area (see link below for directions).

What: this event will be a wonderful chance for NC ceramic artists to connect with TN ceramic artists and the enthusiastic students at ETSU. Please join us for a fun night that will include lively conversation, a tour of the facility and a delicious potluck!

The SCA is preparing a potluck - folks are free to bring what ever they wish (should they like) but, the studio is an alcohol-free zone, so bring your own beverage, but don't bring anything alcoholic.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Firstly, In Tandem Gallery will be having an upcoming exhibition. With a new month comes a new show and this one is our own local ceramicist Andy Palmer. Andy has been in the process of building his own kiln but has been able to fire with some great local potters: Linda McFarling, Shane Mickey, and John Britt. Their generosity and willingness to open their kilns to Andy has allowed him to produce some great work (I am a bit partial though). www.intandemgallery.com/andy-palmer/

There will be an opening this Saturday from 5:00 - 9:00 at the gallery so please come by and join us.
Can't wait to see you.

Secondly, I've been adding a new informational blog to the In Tandem Website. It's a little weird talking about a blog on a blog but if you're interested it's www.intandemgallery.com/blog/
I've been trying to post some basic and barely technical information on ceramic processes and techniques. If you happen to see a correction that needs to happen or have information that would be of interest to add, please don't hesitate to email me. And that's it.
Thanks
Silvia

November Clay Club will take place at 6 pm on Wednesday, November 9th, at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. Thanks to faculty member Lindsay Rogers and the ETSU Student Ceramics Association for hosting us!

This event will be a wonderful chance for NC ceramic artists to connect with TN ceramic artists and the enthusiastic students at ETSU. Please join us for a fun night that will include lively conversation, a tour of the facility and a delicious potluck!

We will be meeting at the ceramics studio at ETSU. The ceramics studio is located in the Art Annex at 695 JL Seehorn Rd, Johnson City. Lindsay provided these directions:

GPS should get you there if you put 695 JL Seehorn Jr Rd in to Google Maps. This is the address of the Art Annex - where the Ceramics studio is located. Here is a link to a campus map if you need: http://www.etsu.edu/etsuhome/maps.aspx. You just have to select 'main campus' and 'art annex' and it will show you where it is. Also, we have a parking lot that is right up by the building. I suspect there will be no issues with parking as this is happening after work hours. Lastly, when in doubt, you can look for the GIANT 525-gallon, 6 1/2-foot tall ceramic vessel that is located at the edge of our kiln pad. It is one of a series created by General Ceramics of New York in the 1920s - and a nice landmark. :)

The SCA is preparing a potluck - folks are free to bring what ever they wish (should they like) but, the studio is an alcohol-free zone, so bring your own beverage, but don't bring anything alcoholic.

• Support critical aspects of education program planning through demonstrations, talks, lectures, etc.

• Manage all aspects of the studio, including, but not limited to:

o Load/unload kilns

o Mix glaze

o Creativity coach for Studio Members

o Organize/clean studio daily

o Make studio is equipped with wading, glaze cookies, Saggers for discarding glaze, kiln wash shelves and other duties as assigned by the Director

Work exchange:

• $100 per week for 52 weeks for a total of $5200 for 20 hours a week of teaching

o additional teaching outside of the required 20 is $30 an hour, excluding ABA’s which are

$30 per session

• Studio manager 10 hours a week as needed. When not teaching or studio manager, Resident is expected to work on personal studio practice

Materials:

• 1,000 lbs of clay per 6 months

• Option to purchase additional clay at wholesale cost through The Bascom

Housing:

• Housing provided

Other General Responsibilities:

• Take photos and post to Facebook.

• Blog once a week, Bascom Life. Word Press

• Upload photos to our Instagram studio barn account

• Share Studio manager role with Director

• Studio Assistant for workshops as needed

• Act as Bascom Ambassador

• Create work for exhibition (must apply)

Access:

• Access to studio, equipment, and materials 24/7

• Personal work space

Sale of Works:

Works made on grounds using Bascom materials and equipment must first be sold through The Studio Barn at The Bascom. Works made on campus using equipment and materials are not allowed to be sold in other shops, galleries, store fronts within a 25 mile radius of The Bascom, excluding shows, craft fairs, and private showings. Use of a personal or business website to sell works must be approved by Director. Artist/Bascom Split is 60/40. Resident can apply to The Bascom for works to be sold through the Gift Shop.

Application Deadline:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Please submit:

1. Cover letter describing your interest in the resident position and proposal of residency project

Images may be sent separately. All other application materials should be included in one submission.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
All residency candidates are subject to a background check.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

There are a number of Day of the Dead events at Ya Ya Yoga & Market (co-owned by Clay Clubber Anita Blackwell) this Friday and Saturday (October 28 and 29), including an art reception Friday evening from 7 - 9 pm.

Our Day of the Dead weekend spans from an Art Reception Friday evening, to pumpkin carving, tarot readings, and barbeque at the Saturday farmer's market 10 am - 2 pm, to an Herbs of the Otherworld workshop Saturday afternoon from 3 - 5 pm.

We are participating in a time-old tradition (records of this holiday go back thousands and thousands of years) of honoring the time of year when the veil between spirit and physical is thinnest. We celebrate our ancestors and our own connection with spirit through harvest, altars, art, and celebration.

Art Reception & Prize Drawing for Artists, 7 - 9 pm
Our open-entry art show will culminate in this reception, with wine, cheese, altars, and a prize drawing for the artists. Share your reactions to the various pieces at "Response Stations".

Tarot Readings by Barbara Kahn, 12 - 5 pm
Barbara's readings are from her own beautifully illustrated Ancient Oracle Deck and Handbook. Her original system includes numerology, information about the elements and directions, and philosophy and prose about the images. 10 minute reading for $10.

Herbs of the Otherworld, an herbal workshop by Asia Suler, 3 - 5 pm.
n exploration of the herbs that can take us beyond the gateways of our normal day-to-day perception to interact with the vast mystery and healing of the Otherworld. Come prepared to taste, journey, and experience the core plant magics of the season, and to interact with the distinct magic of the unknown. $25. Please pre-register at http://www.onewillowapothecaries.com/products/herbs-for-the-otherworld

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

If you are in the area and want a stimulating and informative ceramic workshop ....this is your chance and to top it off it is FREE. Spread the word.

Artist Statement

I suspect what keeps me engaged in the making of pots is the rich history and complex process of ceramics. The materials, kilns, firings, and the rhythm of the studio have become a comfortable part of my life, almost akin to a refuge.

I tend to make complex pots, not understated in form or surface. An interplay between shape and decoration creates a visual tension, which I find to be a rewarding artistic goal. By thinking of pottery as an avenue to explore color, line, surface and form, I have discovered a wellspring of inexhaustible creative opportunities.

I am writing you to let you know that the TRAC Board is developing an exhibit policy so that artists will feel confident about TRAC's display parameters. TRAC serves a wide constituency: from local school students, families, local residents, and visitors to the area. The TRAC goal for its galleries is that they be places where individual expression is valued, and where all members of our community are welcomed and respected.

I would like to ask for your patience as we seek to engage in a process of determining a policy that is both inclusive and respectful. We hope for your participation in that process through feedback once we have a draft policy to work with. Though initially a forum seemed like a way to do it, upon further reflection it doesn't seem like a really effective way to do it.

I would like to stress that the TRAC Board is taking seriously its responsibility to develop an inclusive, respectful policy the membership can use.

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design wants input from Western North Carolina makers and designers!

From the email:

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design (CCCD) and UNC Asheville recently partnered to launch the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (CCE) in downtown Asheville. CCE will offer business workshops and classes designed specifically for makers and students with support from Mountain BizWorks.

CCCD seeks your input via a short 10-minute survey to ensure that programming is relevant to the WNC maker community.

As a special thank you, all participants will be entered for a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card and two tickets to a Blind Pig Supper Club event.

Survey participants must:

• Be a full-time, legal resident in one of the 23 Western North Carolina counties.

Clay Club meets at artist studios and other locations throughout Western North Carolina, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. All potters and ceramic artists are welcome! Look for details about the meetings here on the blog or contact Amy Waller at amy@amywallerpottery.com for more info.